Final answer:
Quartz is the most resistant to chemical weathering due to its stability and hardness compared to materials like limestone, gypsum, dolomite, and iron-bearing rocks. Limestone and other materials can react more readily with environmental components, leading to faster weathering.
Step-by-step explanation:
Among the materials listed, C) quartz is the most resistant to chemical weathering. Quartz is a hard mineral and is very stable, which gives it the greatest resistance to both mechanical and chemical weathering processes. Limestone, gypsum, dolomite, and iron-bearing rocks all tend to be more susceptible to chemical weathering because they can react more readily with acids and other components in the environment. For example, limestone reacts with acids such as sulfur dioxide pollutants in the air or acid rain, causing it to dissolve. Gypsum and dolomite are also relatively soft and soluble in water compared to quartz. Iron-bearing rocks can rust and decompose when exposed to water and oxygen. Therefore, quartz's durability makes it persist in the environment longer than other minerals, often accumulating in sedimentary rocks like sandstone.